Turn Me On Yesfan

[Steveca]

Here's a question to ponder. What album would you suggest to a non Yes fan to turn them on to Yes. I guess my first choice would be Yessongs. That's what got me into them.....CTTE would be another or The Yes Album.....How about you?

Steve

[slamsound]

Hello All,

Greetings from NYC - CTTE is probably my choice for a first time listener - That's the one that got me hooked - YESSONGS is a close second.

My partner claims that "The Ladder" would be a better choice, new effects, new sounds, more radio friendly and shorter songs. CTTE might "scare" some of those virgin ears.

Please reply....
Tom & Allan
Brooklyn, NY

[Green Knight]

I would say Fragile is the best all-round converter. It basically sums up everything Yes is about - grandeur, brilliance, lyricism, quirkiness, and rocking out. It is the all-round mix, and typifies what they are about. No WAY Close to the Edge. Don't get me wrong - that is the best album ever, by anyone, period... but it is just too much for a first time listener. Of today, anyway.

Another possibility would be The Yes Album... however it doesn't quite demonstrate how far out this band would eventually head.

[kh_khatru]

:rolleyes:
I would agree with the ladder as a good introductory album. I dont think its their best but is shows their art and is a bit more accessablem without being poppy like 90125. I think a good individual song would be is on the silent wings of freedom. It really rocks out but has the soaring guitar, penitrating bass and ricks amazing keys. It typlifies yes imho.

[haroldthebarrel]

I would say that Yesongs is not a good choice due to it being live. There are ALOT of parts that if you didn't know what the studio recording sounded like you'd think it was noise. But not in every case.

For instance I'd take CTTE's studio album over the live tracks any day. BUT, for some reason i think Siberian Khatru is better on Yesongs than on any recording ever done of it.

The Ladder i'd say, is closer to the LAST album i'd try to recruit a yesfan with. Same with anything after Drama.

I just happen to have converted at least 15 people into YES. Every one of them responded to Relayer, Fragile, or The Yes Album the most.

The song "ritual" is what I was listening to once when a crowd of people gathered around my car in the park last summer though. So there ya' go, the "new" sounds on the Ladder are not enough to interest anyone today. The old stuff holds up better. And shorter format is not so neccessary anymore either.

By the way: WHAT NEW SOUNDS ON THE LADDER? The synths? They sound less futuristic and advanced as anything on CTTE, TYA, or TFTO.

People don't know a new sound from an old one unless they play synth-keyboards.

But that is digression. The point is that if someone is "scared away" by CTTE, then they'll NEVER like Yes, because that kind of stuff is what Yes is all about.

Joe C:cheers:

[1yesfan]

OHHHHHHH, I think live is the best way to go when chosing a certain group to listen to for the first time. Yesssongs was my first Yes album I played. GOT ME HOOKED!

[Thomas_Dachsel]

Well getting people hooked on YES by CTTE is a bit optimistic since it's so complex ... although the middle part is gigantic and really impresses people by
the vocals, the other parts are somewhat difficult.
I have tried to play the Revealing Science of God to a friend of mine who liked it, but she's not a fan of theirs.
I really like to play "I've seen all good people" to friends of mine, 'cause it's such a great Yes tune :-)
Thomas

[SilentlyFallingFish]

I believe that a non-Yes fan would be quickly converted by Yessongs. It is possibly the most convincing argument as it highlights their musicianship and the bulk of their early repertoire , plus there is a hard edge to this album which would convince even the most hard-core rockers to continue listening.

Other than that, Yes is an acquired taste. It takes years of listening, and then the appreciation only deepens.

[Alexander]

Probably I would not recommend "Going For The One" because I myself found it so difficult to access the first time. I put it away and returned to it a year later and then grew fascinated by it.

I find myself going back to it because it is deeply introspective and takes me back to states of mind I wish I'd never left behind.



:cheers:

[saj]

For what it's worth, "And You and I" was the first track I ever heard of YES back when they released CTTE and got played on the radio here (UK).
It blew my mind then, and still does to this day.
In the old days (vinyl) you could give them CTTE and tell them to play side TWO first!!! If they liked side TWO they might find CTTE the track itself more accessible (although I have to confess it took me a few plays at first!). In these CD days it may not be so simple.
Why not "Classic Yes"? - it contains a good insight into their earlier stuff and should lead to further exploration, if they like what they hear on that.
Personally, I make up my own tape and give it to them - it contains at least one track off every album (a long tape - YES! I know) but at least it gives them an idea of the various 'phases' of YES and which one they might find the most interesting.

[haroldthebarrel]

I agree with Saj, Classic Yes was the first CD by Yes that I discovered in my Dad's CD collection. I remember in like 7th grade (1991) listening to Heart of the Sunrise and thinking that it was their only good song on the album. I was into Metallica and Megadeth alot then. But as I grew older I picked it out and popped it in more often and, it later grew on to become the first of every Yes album I now LOVE!:ohhyeah:

[umgekehrt]

90125

[brotherofmine]

Close To The Edge....LOL

[Squire*Fan725]

My vote goes to "Classic Yes", also.

It was the first to my collection as well, and it did indeed lead me to further exploration..

There's a little bit of each of their earlier albums, plus the two live tracks at the end, so you can see just how much they can jam in concert!

[umgekehrt]

...and on the ninth day God created Rush
...and on the tenth day God created Dream Theater

[John Khatru]

my vote would be for Classic Yes too... it was the first "70's" Yes album I bought which was sometime in 86/87 and upon listening to it, it definately made an impression and I wanted to hear more!

[cinderella]

The one that turned me back on to Yes - 90125 - with the magnificent, and oh so dreamy Trevor Rabin.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Cinderella528/PinkBeatingHeart.gif